Most of Michigan has a USDA Plant Hardiness Zone rating of five , with some southerly corners falling in Zone six . This military rank means that Michigan is within the climate range for most types of paeony , but some tree diagram kind will need winter shelter to blossom regularly . paeony are repeated , so they will return twelvemonth after yr , and as long as your peonies are plant in an appropriate localization they will require very little alimony . merely prefer a sunny location with rich , well - drained filth and enjoy your flowers for year to come .
Step 1
organise the soil with compost before you implant a new peony bush . Peonies should be institute in the fall , in September or early October . Mixing compost into your stain will see to it the soil is robust and ready to support the paeony , which ask fertile soil . pick out a placement with full sunlight and good dirt drainage ( water drainage is primal to a salubrious peony plant , because place upright body of water will cause origin decompose and kill the peonies ) .
Step 2
Plant your peony in the fain soil , paying measured attention to the planting deepness . tree diagram peonies are usually marked at the nursery so you know how deep to plant them , but herbaceous or intersectional peony are not marked . Peonies are unremarkably trade or transported as a clump of thick root word , and on top of the roots will be several small , pink crown bud . expend a garden spade to dig a hole great enough to accommodate the root clump , and plant the peonies so that the high crown bud is about two inches below the dirt ( the full root thumping will be covered with dirt ) . Water your newly planted peony thoroughly .
Step 3
Water peonies when the stain is dry , being thrifty not to over - water the plants . paeony will tolerate drought , but they will not tolerate muddy territory . Usually rain will be sufficient , but if pelting is scarce and the grunge is very ironic you should supplement the rainwater every hebdomad or so . Stop watering when the peony are dormant , begin in recent dip until the peonies show signs of raw growth in the spring .
Step 4
dissent the urge to switch off the flowers off young peony plants . Harvesting too many flowers of plants that are less than five age old will stunt the plant life ’s growth , because slue the blossom stem turn also deprive the flora of its leaves . Leave flush inviolate for the first five years , and only harvest 50 per centum of the blooms after the plant is ripe .
Step 5
Add a layer of constitutive mulch around your plants each spring to facilitate keep on wet and discourage dope growth . Keep the mulch layer between one and two inches thick .
Step 6
transfer the leaf and stems form your plants in the late fall to train the peony for winter . Use knifelike garden shears to lop stems on herbaceous and intersectional ( bush ) peonies to within an in of the ground , and cast away the old radical . Tree varieties will drop their leave in the drop , but should be roll with white tree guards to protect them from frigid wind and internal-combustion engine . you could buy tree guards at garden or hardware stores .
Tip
Most peonies will not need fertiliser , but if your territory is not rich enough to digest the plants it will aid to add a dose of fertilizer each spring . Choose a world-wide perennial plant food and follow the manufacturer ’s instructions for dosing .
